The recruiting process in college sports is the closest thing we have to teams “drafting” potential superstars. Much like their professional level counterparts, college teams use the recruiting period to fill needs and raise the program’s expectations to otherworldly levels. It is how fans and alum keep faith in their favorite program regardless of how good or poorly they did the season before.
Unlike the professional league drafts, recruiting is not just a one-year thing. In fact, it could start as early as when a prospect dribbles a basketball for the first time. If a kid is good enough — or seems good enough — shoe companies, AAU coaches and college recruiters are quick to find out which 5’2″ seventh-grade phenom will grow to be a 6’4″ high school darling. As awesome as it is dirty, we have all fallen in love with college recruiting.
Another thing colleges can do is offer a scholarship well before a player becomes a senior in high school. That is what the Syracuse Orange have done. Soon to be high school senior, Kaleb Joseph, has reportedly been offered a scholarship to join the Orange in 2014. Meaning, Syracuse is looking to fill a point guard void that could potentially be there after next season.
ESPN has Joseph ranked as the 56th best player at his position, although, that does not mean he might actually be better than the guys in front of him. Evaluating recruits in high school is even harder than the pros scouting college kids — it is just too hard to see whose game translates better from high school to college.
Apparently, Joseph has Syracuse high on his list of schools in which he would like to attend. However, it may be a little while down the road until he actually signs a letter of intent to go anywhere.
Joe is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JosephNardone